I think 2011 was an exciting year when it comes to singles and - specially - EPs... I can tell that I was more excited coming up with this than the list of best albums. Not that there weren't amazing albums in 2011, but to go back and see the amount of great EPs was very satisfying and pleasurable...
There were so many great new artists that released music as singles or EPs. The popularization of Bandcamp and Soundcloud also was a major contribution and I had spent my share of time wandering through those sites, looking for new artists. As a result, 19 of the 30 releases listed below are self releases.
30 THE FANTASIES EARTH LIFE self released
29 LA OLA QUE QUERIA SER CHAU EY BONITA, GUSTAN DE VOS TODOS MIS AMIGOS! self released
28 LENZIE MOSS WHERE EAGLES DARE self released
27 BURNING HEARTS INTO THE WILDERNESS shelflife
26 YOUNG WRISTS FUCKED UP IN THE HEAD self released
25 DANIEL RODIN ANOTHER TOWN self released
24 UNIVERSE CARRIZO PLAIN self released
23 LITTLE CHORDS LITTLE CHORDS self released
22 DOM FAMILY OF LOVE astralwerks
21 DELAY TREES BEFORE I GO GO self released
20 WONDER BEAR AVALANCHE absent fever
19 THE SORRY SHOP THANK YOU COME AGAIN self released
18 STAND UP AGAINST HEART CRIME LOST IN TIME AND SPACE self released
17 ECHO LAKE YOUNG SILENCE no pain in pop
16 BURNING GOD LITTLE NOTES ON BEING SNOWBLIND nabovarsel
15 AN INTRODUCTION TO SUNSHINE SNOW TIRE eyes four
14 HEART-SICK GROANS LOOK!!! THESE THREE PAINTERS OF HITS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN self released
13 KARIBEAN LOVE, TEARS AND SPIRITUAL BLESSING self released
12 LA OLA QUE QUERIA SER CHAU OJALA QUE ESTE VERANO NO NOS MATEN self released
11 PURE X YOU'RE IN IT NOW light lodge
10 WE, THE MODERN AGE! EP 2011 self released
09 DIRTY GOLD ROAR autumn tone
08 RADIOSEVEN RADIOSEVEN self released
07 COMPUTER MAGIC ELECTRONIC FENCES white iris
06 THE PANDUHS CATCH A WAVE self released
05 FLAG WHITE LET GO self released
04 FRENCH FILMS GOLDEN SEA* gaea
03 AIR DROPS EP self released
02 STAND UP AGAINST HEART CRIME STAND UP AGAINST HEART CRIME self released
01 KIDS ON A CRIME SPREE WE LOVE YOU SO BAD slumberland
*from 2010 but discovered in 2011. Too good. Had to mention.
PERSONAL FEELINGS
1 KIDS ON A CRIME SPREE released an EP that in 10-15 years, will be a classic. People will always return to it to get the feeling of this moment. It captures and translates the musical spirit of our times. It isn't the EP I've heard the most this year, but I feel it has a different weight (and by weight I don't mean importance or relevance).
2 STAND UP AGAINST HEART CRIME was the discover of the year. First release was a self titled EP with a minimal-wave, aseptic, melancholic and futuristic collection of songs and then when I thought I knew or had their music figured it out, the band comes up with 2 marvelous songs with warm guitars and dreamy melodies.
3 Electronic music was best heard in EPs this year.
3.1 AIR DROPS released a piece of art in form of bits with evocative and profound sounds; probably one of the releases that most 'spoke' to me.
3.2 FLAG WHITE brought us the richest landscape of electronic dreams, culminating in a song called Alaska - the romantic digital anthem of the year.
3.3 RADIOSEVEN gave us one of the most compelling combinations of space station futurism and pop music of 2011.
4 KARIBEAN released GREGORIAN SPRING, a timeless and anthemic indie pop song that fills my heart with joy. Simple melodies and far-from-over-produced songs can't go wrong.
5 COMPUTER MAGIC is going to be big. 2011 proved that.
6 LA OLA QUE QUERIA SER CHAU is a band from Argentina and its freshness is absolutely addictive. Unpretentious summery tunes. One of the bands I wanted the whole world could listen...
7 THE SORRY SHOP is from Brazil and comes from my homestate, Rio Grande do Sul. ABOUT KINGS AND QUEENS I alone makes this EP a must listen of the year. Beautiful and urban as few things heard this year.
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